International patients double at Boston Children's over 3 years

Recently disclosed financial data from Boston Children's Hospital shows a two-fold increase of international patients from 2012 to 2015, the Boston Business Journal reported.

In 2012, international patients represented 4 percent of the hospital's net patient revenue. This percentage jumped to 7.3 percent in 2015.

In addition, international patients contributed $122 million to the facility's patient revenue in FY 2015, a $67.7 million gain from 2012.

This does not mean the facility is turning into one that predominately attends international patients, hospital spokesperson Rob Graham told BBJ. Seventy percent of Children's patients reside in Massachusetts, and revenue from international patients represents about 10 percent of Children's $1.6 billion total patient revenue.

"As the local private payer reimbursements are held to nominal growth and the state Medicaid program continues to reimburse well below costs, international, national and regional revenue are important to subsidize lower reimbursements," Mr. Graham told BBJ.

Children's is currently planning a $1 billion expansion to its Longwood campus, and some wonder if more international patients will use the beds, according to BBJ.

Simultaneously, the state is limiting the number of patients who seek unspecialized care at expensive Boston healthcare facilities.